Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care student named student of the year at Manjimup TAFE campus

An Early Childhood Education and Care student at Manjimup TAFE was among the highest-achieving students across the South West in 2022. Annalyn Tolentino joined other students from Bunbury, Busselton and Margaret River for a gala ceremony at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on March 24 where she was announced Manjimup Campus Student of the Year. The mother-of-five was also awarded a certificate of excellence for the area of early childhood education. Ms Tolentino said she was surprised to receive the prestigious award. “It’s a very awesome feeling because I didn’t expect to be of all the students in Manjimup,” she said. “I expected the certificate of excellence because it was written in the program but I didn’t know I would be student of the year, I didn’t expect that. “It was a great night.” Ms Tolentino said she loved studying the diploma and attributes her success to consistency and patience. “I had a lot of experience in the Philippines and I brought my education strategy to Australia so I think that’s my secret,” she said. “Consistency is the key to success I always bear on my mind because if you don’t have patience you’re not going to reach your goal and achieve this kind of achievement.” Ms Tolentino said she didn’t expect to study what she did and fell into it because of an employer sponsorship, however, ended up feeling like she made the right career choice. “I really liked it and I’m really liking this kind of job,” she said. “I’m developing my career here and getting more and more confident to handle everything. . . I can see my vision to have my own centre in the future.” Ms Tolentino — who is grateful to her lecturer Karen Cai, her husband and the Manjimup TAFE staff — said the advice she had for current and future students studying early childhood education and care was to focus, be patient and consistent and commit to the studies and the future. “My advice is to focus,” she said. “Focus on studying and be patient. “You have to be consistent and you have to commit.” Manjimup Campus manager Mary Guadagnino said it was fantastic that a local student has had such success at a regional awards night. Ms Guadagnino said the Manjimup Chamber of Commerce and Industry had a long history of supporting the TAFE students at the Manjimup campus through sponsorship of the award with this year being no exception. “Karen Cai, Annalyn’s lecturer, described her as a very determined and committed student who wants to make a difference to her community,” she said. MCCI president Bevan Eatts said the chamber was more than happy to sponsor this award and intended to continue sponsorship into the future. “To win student of the year is no small achievement,” he said. “On behalf of the MCCI, I congratulate Annalyn on her success and have no doubt she will achieve anything she sets her mind to in the future.” South Regional TAFE managing director Darshi Ganeson said she congratulated all students who “should be very proud of their achievements”. “Finalists were selected from thousands of students who completed a qualification, so being a TAFE award recipient is a huge accolade,” she said. “It demonstrates to employers that these students have excellent skills and are dedicated to achieving outstanding results.”